Fall Decorating Ideas For Outside

Autumnal Upgrade

Freshen up your home's exterior just in time for fall with our 40 favorite ways to use seasonal mums, pumpkins, jewel tones, cozy rugs and so much more in your outdoor decor.

Over-the-Top Archway

Anchor your front stoop with a show-stopping seasonal display with our festive DIY floral pumpkin arch. The texture-rich design infuses autumn appeal into any outdoor space with rich dimension, understated earth tones and faux white pumpkins galore. Get the step-by-step tutorial to make your own floral pumpkin arch in the link below.

Get the How-To: How to Craft an Over-The-Top Floral Pumpkin Arch for Fall

Layered Textiles

One failproof way to get your outdoor space fit for fall? Layer up your textiles. Here, cranberry and emerald tones elevate this outdoor gathering space. Petite Persian rugs drape across the gray Adirondack chair backs for a burst of color, and a mix of orange, red and yellow accent throws are incorporated throughout for comfortable conversation.

More Is More

Pumpkins, gourds and mums-a-plenty pile the steps of this home with autumnal hues, while two life-sized scarecrows flank the front door to greet guests and passersby with a stitched smile.

Pop of Plaid

Dress your summery outdoor lounge set with fall-forward accessories. These crisp white cushions are energized for autumn by way of vibrant orange, red and turquoise plaid toss pillow and a matching-orange braided blanket.

Midas Touch

Glowing and gorgeous, this front porch is made fall-ready by symmetrical door vignettes. Two golden planters filled with textural blooms flank the wooden door, and inky glass and metal lanterns illuminate from below. A collection of black and white, orange, ivory and metallic rose gold pumpkins pile at the base of the planters to round out the fall porch design.

Autumnal Amber Tones

Alfresco dining is dreamier than ever at this well-appointed autumnal outdoor table. An enchanting mix of amber, rust and gold tones intertwine throughout, infusing the glass-top midcentury table with warmth and richness synonymous with the season.

Blanket (Bar) Cart

Bar carts don't get enough attention during snuggle season. Luckily, we have an easy solution: Convert yours into a blanket cart complete with s'mores or candy apple fixings on top and warm, fleece throws down below. Just the presence of wool blankets makes this bar cart more eye-catching on chilly evenings.

SEE MORE: Find Your Fire Pit Style With Our Top 3 Looks

Dressed to Impressed

A bandana-clad scarecrow offers neighbors a handsome slanted smile from the front stoop of this farmhouse. Seasonal orange mums and two petite pumpkins round out the joyful vignette.

Get the How-To: Snowman + Scarecrow: Two-in-One Front Porch Decor

Dreamy Draping

When in doubt, drape it! A collection of teal and ivory tartan throws drapes across outdoor dining chairs, adding fall coziness to this mountainside porch. Three pint-sized pumpkins scatter across the center of the table as a festive focal point, while a bushel of marigold mums adds warmth underfoot.

Boho-Chic Harvest

Bring store-bought mums to life in a big way this year by planting them in a wheelbarrow. To ensure that her display would look less country and more boho-chic, lifestyle photographer Aniko Levai painted feathers and geometric shapes right onto the wood — something you can easily do, too.

Pumpkin Spice Pillows

Take cues from the season's hottest sip and style your outdoor sitting area with pumpkin spice pillows. The orange hue and plaid pattern will call forward notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove and warm up a neutral porch swing or outdoor sectional.

Maple Leaf Mailbox Garland

Send the message that autumn has arrived by adorning your mailbox with a fiery maple leaf garland. This DIY project can be easily completed in an afternoon and requires just two wire coat hangers, floral craft foam, faux leaves and mini pumpkins. Finish off the festive display with a couple of lanterns or mums in large planters.

Get the How-To: Fall Into Autumn With Easy DIY Mailbox Swag

Cozy Up Outdoor Furniture

Change up the look of your outdoor sofa with a simple swap of seasonal pillows. Once the bright blues and yellows of summer are over, take the less-is-more approach by layering neutrals and evergreens. Even though this mix evokes the feeling of fall, it also works year-round.

See More Photos: 13 Easy Ways to Extend Your Outdoor Space Into Fall

Layered Doormats

This front porch is decorated with fall-inspired rugs that have been stacked on top of each other to create a luscious, layered look. The bottom layer is a traditional buffalo check pattern while the top features a cheeky fall greeting. The pair looks gorgeous against the rich, wooden door surrounded by hay bales and baskets of mums.

SEE MORE: 15 Cute Outdoor Doormats to Welcome Fall

Charming Rocking Chairs

Sleek metal benches and side tables are nice, but they just can't beat a pair of rocking chairs this time of year. Dial up the character and charm on your porch by snagging two seats in either a reclaimed or distressed wood finish. (Read: The more rustic, the better.) Add a couple of throw pillows and you'll have one idyllic spot for sipping hot chocolate or apple cider.

SEE MORE: Cozy Up Your Front Porch With Farmhouse Style for Fall

Pretty Pumpkin Topiary

Pumpkin topiaries are so chic, don't you think? Take a break from the seasonal wreaths this year and anchor your front door with two of these fresh white arrangements. The lighter hues, dried florals and feathers create an elegant, fall-forward display that's unique and will carry your space well into winter.

Bountiful Display

A traditional entry bench is enlivened by cozy textiles and vibrant autumn hues. The draped black-and-white buffalo check blanket offers a reprieve from the brisk breeze while buttery yellow and orange plaid accent pillows create plush support against the wooden frame.

See More Photos: An Autumnal Front Porch Worth Falling For

Seasonal Stoop

Nothing says bountiful harvest like fresh flowers, gourds and lanterns cascading down the front steps. "Consider what fall looks like in your region or yard and mimic it for a more natural design," Leslie Davis of Paper Daisy Design suggests. If you can't choose between a classic orange or cool white motif, try this tip and let your landscape influence your decision.

See More Photos: Celebrate Autumn With the Season's Best Porches and Patios

Firewood for Effect

Evoke thoughts of roaring fires and toasted marshmallows without ever lighting a match by collecting a little lumber for your back porch. The raw texture is perfect for an autumnal look and can be shown off in either a woven basket or wooden crate, such as the indoor display seen here.

Pretty in Pink

We're with Elle Woods on this one. Whoever said orange was the new pink is, in fact, seriously disturbed. Just look at this punchy pink fall porch and you'll see what we mean. The whimsical stoop is dressed to the nines with a rustic-traditional wreath and door swags adorned with feminine pale pink ribbons, golden sunflowers and sage fairytale pumpkins.

Shop Our Favorite Fall Wreaths: The Best Fall Wreaths for Your Front Door + More

Vintage Milk Jug Vases

Vintage milk jugs just make sense for a traditional autumn table. Search for a galvanized or ceramic vessel like this one, and repurpose the container into a charming vase. Fill the jug with flowers, cotton stems or paper leaves on metallic branches for a fall-tastic look.

Get the How-To: Easy-to-Craft Fall Leaf Centerpiece

Cozy Fall Tablescape

Floral, copper and rose gold accents coordinate with navy in this divine outdoor fall tablescape. Instead of chairs, the designer chose to add a bench to one side of the table. A cozy throw draped over the bench adds a feeling of warmth. Set in a beautiful courtyard, the combination of the stone and vines provides texture, creating an inviting space perfect for hosting an outdoor party or even Thanksgiving dinner.

Fill Your Lanterns

Give your year-round glass lanterns a seasonal upgrade by filling them with pumpkins, dried nuts and seeds, and more. When the season is over, you can swap fall decor for holiday-themed decorations like faux snow and pine cones. For maximum visual impact, group the lanterns together and be consistent with your choice of pillar candles.

Finishing Fall Touches

Somehow, arbors and garden gates are even more enchanting with an autumn wreath. For a look as full as this, use either corn husks or dried foliage and make sure to fan everything out. And again, let your landscape determine the color scheme; it'll help tie it all together.

See More Photos: 30 Fall-Tastic DIY Wreaths

Quilt-Covered Hammock

Take your hammock or hanging chair from summer to fall with the addition of a quilt and a couple of strategically placed lanterns. Though neutral, the blanket has a cozy, hand-stitched quality that will make your loved ones want to cuddle up and enjoy those crisp evenings.

Cream + Cinnamon Place Settings

Spice up your outdoor table — without any orange in sight — by opting for a cream and cinnamon color scheme. To recreate this elegant display at home, start with an ivory or off-white runner and top it with bronze hurricanes in varying sizes. Then, finish the fall tablescape with rattan chargers for texture and warmth.

See More Photos: Inviting Table Settings Made for Outdoor Entertaining

Chunky Candles

Add even more ambience to an outdoor fireplace by covering the mantel in candles. Use ivory pillars to lighten a brick or stone surround and to lift the eye up, or mix in matte black or orange votives to nod ever so slightly to Halloween or Thanksgiving.

Cornucopia-Style Containers

Pull inspiration from the horn-of-plenty itself and transform your containers into festive, floral cornucopias. Start with wicker planters to mimic the woven basket and fill with autumnal-hued plants such as croton, mums, cabbage, juniper and Supertunias. The end result will be a feast for the eyes.

Bring Out the Buffalo Check

Consider September 1st your green light to pull out all the buffalo check decor your heart desires. Take cues from designer Brian Patrick Flynn and invest in checkered outdoor throws to create a cozy, cabin-inspired atmosphere around your backyard fire pit.

Sweater Pumpkins

Add instant coziness and texture to your front porch display by wrapping pumpkins in an old or thrifted sweater. Get the step-by-step instruction below.

GET THE HOW-TO: Fall Upcycle: Give Pumpkins a Cozy Makeover With Old Sweaters

Front Door Decor

Welcome the arrival of fall with a front door display that's hard to miss. Budget-friendly materials, such as butcher paper and faux leaves, are used to create a welcoming message on this autumn-ready entry.

Get the How-To: Make Your Front Door Say "It's Fall Y'all" With DIY Decor

Cotton Stem Centerpieces

Make your fall centerpiece last a little longer by choosing cotton stems over fresh flowers. Simply gather the branches in odd numbers (five and seven work best), wrap them in a dark cloth for contrast and place them in a galvanized pitcher for that farmhouse finish. This is the perfect way to add a little height to your tablescape.

See More Photos: Our 70 Favorite Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Prepare for Trick-or-Treaters

It's never too early to prepare for trick-or-treaters. This spooky-cute bench features buffalo check pillows, golden haystacks and pumpkins aplenty. Apple baskets are used to hand out sweets but look equally lovely filled with fall blooms or seasonal squash.

Fruits of the Harvest

Opt for the unexpected. Swap your porch pumpkins for fall's second favorite harvest: apples. This timeless door wreath boasts glossy ruby apples, fiery orange berries and sun-dried yellow foliage.

SEE MORE: 30 Fall-Tastic DIY Wreaths

Fresh Cut Sunflowers

Maybe it's their warm, yellow petals or the fact they bloom into early fall, but sunflowers really are the perfect transitionary floral. Effortlessly style a porch or patio for the new season by showcasing these beauties on your outdoor tables. Fill a jar or two with seasonal flowers picked up at a local market or grocery store (or even pick some dried hydrangeas from your own yard.) Mix those with pumpkins and seasonal fruits, like apples and pears, to make simple, but pretty table decorations.

Learn More: Growing Sunflowers: When to Plant and How to Grow Sunflowers

Buffalo-Check Base

Buffalo check gives us all the warm and fuzzy feelings, like a favorite flannel shirt or blanket. Transition this cozy fall pattern into your home's wardrobe by replacing a summery area rug with a black-and-white floor covering. Try the pattern out in smaller doses via doormats, throw pillows or ottomans.

Learn More: Trending Now: Buffalo Check

Glam Gourds

Rustic texture, creamy hues and glam metallic finishes come together to create this one-of-a-kind fall porch. A tall corn stalk in an aged bronze planter brings height to the display while creamy white pumpkins brighten the stoop and shine against the tan siding.

Happy Hay Display

Dress your deck for the season with a classic and colorful harvest-inspired vignette. Use this picture-perfect space as your muse. It features a fairytale pumpkin trio, three blonde haystacks and a fiery amber berry swag secured to the railing.

Draped + Dreamy

Fall calls for endless nights cozied up around the fire pit. Take notes from designer Brian Patrick Flynn and soften your Adirondack chairs with soft ruby-hued blankets and plush olive all-weather pillows. Bonus points if you also happen to keep an extra collection of quilts on hand, stored in a woven basket underfoot.

Set the Scene for Snuggles

Set the scene for snuggling with someone special this fall with a mix of sumptuous plush textures. This pup-approved patio shows how it's done with a fluffy faux sheepskin pillow, a flannel buffalo check blanket and two crisp black and white plaid pillows piled on the blonde wicker loveseat. Pro tip: Up the cozy factor a few notches with ambient lighting via an outdoor lamp and pillar candles.